Sports:12-Goal-Thriller as Arsenal Triumphs in The Madejski Madness

Arsenal

 

Arsenal fightback salvaged some pride after a farcical first-half display. The match looked likely to end as what Arsene Wenger described as a disaster until a scintillating display from the young gunners in the second half ensure a Dramatic ending to what will be a classic.
The Gunners fought back from 4-0 down in 40 minutes to force extra time and eventually triumph 7-5 at the Madejski Stadium after a truly remarkable contest defined by irresistible attacking and inept defending. According to the gunners' manager "We went from disaster to giving ourselves at least some pride, because we came back with a decent performance. "We had only hope that we would go through, but at least we got our
first-half disasters out of our system. "I felt for our fans because even at 4-0, they stayed behind the team. I would like to give them credit, and I’m happy that we paid them back in the second half. "Once it was 4-4 I felt we would win the game, because Reading had given a lot, and were mentally down. We looked quite comfortable in extra time."Wenger knows first-hand the pain of losing a four-goal lead, having been pegged back to a 4-4 draw by Newcastle in February last year, and expressed his sympathy for Reading boss Brian McDermott.

 "They had a fantastic start, and I know what it is to be pulled back when you’re 4-0 up," he continued. "Reading should take credit from that performance, and maybe not be too disappointed. "At 4-0, you think you have won the game. At 4-1, you still think you have won the game. At 4-2, you suddenly realise it isn’t over, and then the panic kicks in. "It doesn’t matter how good a player you are, when that happens, it
goes right through the team."  The Gunners boss also took the opportunity to praise contract rebel
Theo Walcott, who bagged a hat-trick to cap a man-of-the-match display. "I always said he will be striker," Wenger insisted. "He’s a good finisher now. He knows where to be on the rebounds. That is the
quality of a striker you can’t give to someone, they either have it or they don’t. "I want to keep him, and I think aside from the contract talks, you have to give him credit for the way he is committed to the team,
and for the way he behaves."

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